Bruno Mars has come under fire from global K-pop fans after his recent comments about BLACKPINK’s Rosé sparked accusations of disrespect toward BTS. The controversy erupted following an interview with Billboard, where the singer discussed the cultural impact of his hit collaboration with Rosé, “APT.”
In the interview, Bruno Mars praised the song’s global reception and compared its influence to PSY’s iconic 2012 hit “Gangnam Style.” He described “APT.” as a rare moment where a Korean artist introduces a new cultural wave to audiences unfamiliar with it, calling the experience “magic” and saying he had “never seen this before.”
However, once excerpts from the interview circulated online, backlash quickly followed. Many netizens argued that Bruno Mars’ remarks ignored BTS’ groundbreaking role in globalizing K-pop long before “APT.” Fans pointed out that BTS had already achieved historic milestones on Western charts, sold out stadiums worldwide, and reshaped global perceptions of Korean pop music.
The criticism intensified as some fans accused Bruno Mars of selectively using BTS’ popularity in the past while failing to acknowledge their contributions now. A portion of the backlash also claimed the comments carried racial or cultural insensitivity, suggesting that framing Rosé as the first Korean artist to “introduce this thing” erased years of BTS’ achievements.
Rosé herself has also faced scrutiny in recent weeks over separate interview remarks that some fans interpreted as downplaying BTS’ influence, further fueling tensions within the fandom.
While others defended Bruno Mars, arguing his comments were meant to highlight his personal experience rather than rewrite K-pop history, the debate continues to divide fans online. As of now, neither Bruno Mars nor Rosé has issued an official response addressing the controversy.
The incident underscores the sensitivity surrounding K-pop’s global journey and the strong loyalty of fandoms when it comes to recognizing the artists who paved the way.